Split Die

ABSTRACT

A split die adapted for threads of a bolt may include a first die member and a second die member being detachably connected to the first die member. The first die member and the second die member may include a radially inward extending member having a radial thread to cooperate with the thread of the bolt. The first die member may include a first discontinuous circular interior surface, and the second die member may include a first discontinuous circular interior surface. The first die member may include a guiding pin, and the second die member may include a guiding pin aperture to cooperate with the guiding pin. The split die may include a retaining pin to detachably connect with the first die member to the second die member, and the split die may be six sided. The split die may be five sided, and the split die may be four sided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dies and more particularly to a split die which is detachably connected.

BACKGROUND

A common fastening device is a bolt and nut which has great utility in being able to be removed whenever desired. However, a bolt may be formed from iron or steel which may become corroded or become distorted as a result of abuse or being out in the weather. After this has happened, it is difficult to use the bolt for it's intended purpose and difficult to remove or add a nut. Typically, the damaged is more pronounced at the end of the bolt where the exposure to the elements is the greatest. There may be some relatively undamaged threads towards the center of the bolt. With the damage at the end of the bolt, it is difficult to start a nut because of the damage threads.

U.S. Pat. No. RE 28,907 relates to a threaded bushing which, upon entering and turning in the initially smooth bore of the work piece, will form through its own male thread the corresponding internal thread within the wall of the work piece bore. The bushing is formed with one or more exterior bevels or grooves which extend axially over at least several threads and intersect such threads to form spoon or cup-shaped frontal areas where each bevel or groove merges into a respective thread.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,313 discloses a die assembly which includes relatively movable first and second dies, and a plurality of guide pin assemblies mounted on the first die and an equal plurality of aligning passageways formed in the second die for receiving the respective guide pin assemblies. Each of the guide pin assemblies includes a first section mounted within the first die, and a second aligning pin section connected to the first section. Each aligning pin section extends above the surface of the first die for entering one of the plurality of aligning passageways for aligning the first and second dies. Each aligning pin section is detachably connected to a first section and is detached after the first and second dies have been aligned and are ready to be used. In this manner, when the first and second dies are differentially heated during use, the problem of scoring or damaging the aligning pin sections is avoided. In an alternative embodiment, replacement aligning pin sections may be substituted for the original aligning pin sections, with the replacement aligning pin sections including through holes having a central longitudinal axis offset from the central longitudinal axis of the pin section to compensate for uneven expansion of the first and second dies.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,033 discloses thread rolling dies for pointed fasteners having an improved working face contour which promotes displacement of blank material from the blank point area at an early stage in the thread rolling sequence to avoid excessive pressures in the die and blank at the finishing stages of the rolling sequence. Thread cutters include an extended section that presurfaces the rise angle of the die working face to produce uniform, improved thread profiles.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,472 discloses a self-tapping tee for heavy walled plastic pipe such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or thick walled polyethylene tubing. The self-tapping tee includes a saddle for gripping a tubular line to be tapped, a coupling tap with a stem for poking a hole in a sidewall of the line, with the sidewall of the line around the hole stretched about the stem, forming a seal, and a removable mandrel for supporting the stem while the hole is being made.

SUMMARY

A split die adapted for threads of a bolt may include a first die member and a second die member being detachably connected to the first die member. The first die member and the second die member may include a radially inward extending member having a radial thread to cooperate with the thread of the bolt.

The first die member may include a first discontinuous circular interior surface, and the second die member may include a first discontinuous circular interior surface.

The first die member may include a guiding pin, and the second die member may include a guiding pin aperture to cooperate with the guiding pin.

The split die may include a retaining pin to detachably connect with the first die member to the second die member, and the split die may be six sided.

The split die may be five sided, and the split die may be four sided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a top exploded view of the split die of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the split die of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the split die of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the split die the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the split die of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates the split die and a bolt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention employs a split die member 100 which may include a first die member 103 and a second die member 105. The first die member 103 and the second die member 105 may be detachably connected. Because the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 are detachably connected, the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 can be separated. After separation, the first die member 103, the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 can be rejoined over a substantially undamaged portion of the threads of the bolt (shown in FIG. 6 as 601) which has been damaged and tightened so that axial threads of the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 may travel the threads towards the damaged end, cleaning the threads as the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 travel along. The first die member 103 and the second die member 105 will substantially clean and straighten the damaged threads to allow the bolt to be reused.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the split die 100 of the present invention and illustrates the exterior top surface 109 which may be substantially planar. The split die 100 may include an exterior side surface 107 which may be hexagonal or six sided in shape. The exterior side surface 107 may be rectangular, five sided, seven sided or a convenient number of sides. Each side surface 107 may be substantially planar to allow for a wrench (not shown) or other suitable tool in order to rotate the split die 100 while connected to the damage threads in order to facilitate the removal of dirt or corrosion or damage to the threads. FIG. 1 illustrates that the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 are separated. The first die member 103 may be coupled the second die member 105 by tongue and groove or other appropriate device.

FIG. 1 additionally illustrates a first discontinuous circular interior surface 113 which may be concavely curved in order to define a radially inward extending member 115 which may be a arm and which may include axial threads (431 in FIG. 4) which may include edges which are sharpened in order to cut through debris and damaged male threads. There is shown 4 first discontinuous circular interior surfaces 113 which define 4 radially inward extending member 115. However, additional or fewer first discontinuous circular interior surfaces and radially inward extending members may be employed. Furthermore, other shapes of discontinuous interior surfaces 113 may be employed. FIG. 4 illustrates that the first discontinuous circular interior surface 113 may extend from the exterior top surface 109 to the exterior bottom surface 117.

FIG. 1 additionally illustrates a guide pin 155 to cooperate with a first aperture 151 in order to position the first die member 103 with respect to the second die member 105. FIG. 1 illustrates that there may be an opposing guide pin 155 on each side of the split die 100. FIG. 1 additionally illustrates a second aperture 153 which may include a threaded portion (551 in FIG. 5) to cooperate with a retaining pin 157 which may include a threaded portion 159 to cooperate with the threaded portion 551 of the second aperture 153.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the split die 100 of the present invention and illustrates the exterior top surface 109 which may be substantially planar. The split die 100 may include an exterior side surface 107 which may be hexagonal or six sided in shape. The exterior side surface 107 may be rectangular, five sided, seven sided or a convenient number of sides. Each side surface 107 may be substantially planar to allow for a wrench (not shown) or other suitable tool in order to rotate the split die 100 while connected to the damage threads in order to facilitate the removal of dirt or corrosion or damage to the threads.

FIG. 2 additionally illustrates a first discontinuous circular interior surface 113 which may be concavely curved in order to define a radially inward extending member 115 which may be a arm and which may include axial threads (431 in FIG. 4) which may include edges which are sharpened in order to cut through debris and damaged male threads. There is shown 4 first discontinuous circular interior surfaces 113 which define 4 radially inward extending member 115. However, additional or fewer first discontinuous circular interior surfaces and radially inward extending members may be employed. Furthermore, other shapes of discontinuous interior surfaces 113 may be employed. FIG. 4 illustrates that the first discontinuous circular interior surface 113 and the axial threads 431 may extend from the exterior top surface 109 to the exterior bottom surface 117.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the split die 100 of the present invention and illustrates the exterior bottom surface 117 which may be substantially planar. The split die 100 may include an exterior side surface 107 which may be hexagonal or six sided in shape. The exterior side surface 107 may be rectangular, five sided, seven sided or a convenient number of sides. Each side surface 107 may be substantially planar to allow for a wrench (not shown) or other suitable tool in order to rotate the split die 100 while connected to the damage threads in order to facilitate the removal of dirt or corrosion or damage to the threads.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the first discontinuous circular interior surface 113 and the axial threads 431 may extend from the exterior top surface 109 to the exterior bottom surface 117.

FIG. 4 additionally illustrates the first aperture 151 and the second aperture 153.

FIG. 5 illustrates the first die member 103 and the second die member 105 which may be detachably connected with a pair of opposing retaining pins 157 which may include threads 159. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates the second apertures 153 which may include threads 551.

FIG. 6 illustrates that the split die 100 has been joined over the center of the bolt 601 and the split die 100 is rotated along the threads of the bolt 601 towards the threaded end of the bolt 601. In this way, the damage threads of the bolt 601 may be cleaned and reformed.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

1. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt, comprising: a first die member; a second die member being detachably connected to the first die member; wherein the first die member and the second die member include a radially inward extending member having a radial thread to cooperate with the thread of the bolt.
 2. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the first die member includes a first discontinuous circular interior surface.
 3. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the second die member includes a first discontinuous circular interior surface.
 4. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the first die member includes a guiding pin.
 5. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 4, wherein the second die member includes a guiding pin aperture to cooperate with the guiding pin.
 6. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the split die includes a retaining pin to detachably connect with the first die member to the second die member.
 7. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the split die is six sided.
 8. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the split die is five sided.
 9. A split die adapted for threads of a bolt as in claim 1, wherein the split die is four sided. 